Seth Trimble stuck with UNC. The reward was a huge shot to shock Duke in an epic rivalry finish

North Carolina senior guard Seth Trimble buried a go-ahead three-pointer with only 0.4 seconds remaining on the clock to secure a thrilling 72-71 victory for the 14th-ranked Tar Heels over their fourth-ranked rivals, the Duke Blue Devils, on Saturday night at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill. The dramatic finish concluded the latest chapter of college basketball’s most storied rivalry, providing a signature moment for a veteran player who previously considered leaving the program through the transfer portal. Trimble’s clutch shot from the wing capped a furious back-and-forth battle that saw multiple lead changes in the final minutes, effectively tilting the Atlantic Coast Conference standings in North Carolina's favor. The game-winning sequence began after Duke had taken a slim lead in the closing seconds, putting the pressure on UNC to execute a final play. Trimble, known more for his defensive prowess and athleticism than his perimeter shooting, found space on the perimeter and delivered the most significant basket of his collegiate career. The victory not only serves as a massive boost to North Carolina's seeding prospects for the upcoming NCAA Tournament but also cements the team's dominance in the home-and-home series against their Tobacco Road neighbors this season. For Trimble, the moment represented the culmination of a tumultuous offseason where he originally entered the transfer portal before deciding to return to Chapel Hill for his senior campaign. His decision to stay and fight for a role in Hubert Davis’s rotation has been a central narrative for the Tar Heels this year. By delivering in the highest-stakes environment of the regular season, Trimble validated his loyalty to the program and provided North Carolina fans with an iconic highlight that will be remembered alongside the great finishes in the history of the UNC-Duke rivalry.